Apparatus for hair modification

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to assist in modifying hair. The apparatus includes a plurality of curlers and a handle configured to removably retain the curlers thereto. The handle includes a portion that has stepped sections. The stepped sections are arranged to retain individual curlers of different dimensions thereto. The handle is releasably joined to a curler, the curler placed where desired and released to stay in place. The handle may then be used to do the same with a different curler of the same or a different size. As a result, a single handle may be used to position a plurality of curlers of the same or differing size where desired. The combination of the handle and the curlers allows a user to place curlers in locations of interest and retain them in place as a replacement for a styling tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to hair modification tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to tools that aid in the styling, curling and/or straightening of hair. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to tools that enable hair modification for a selectable period of time without requiring constant user contact therewith.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Hair curlers and round brushes used by individuals to modify the shape and appearance of hair have been available for a considerable amount of time. An individual generally uses a round brush in combination with a blow dryer to establish curls in the hair. The longer sections of hair remain engaged around the brush, the longer the curl will remain in place after the brush has been removed. A round brush of a relatively small diameter will produce a tighter curl than a rounded brush of a relatively large diameter will produce a larger curl. However, the person going through the process of blow drying and curling the hair must keep the brush in place for the length of time required to generate the curl and must repeat that process over the entire head. That can be time consuming and physically difficult, particularly for the physically challenged.

Hair curlers may be used instead of a round brush, but they have their own limitations in functionality, effectiveness and convenience. In particular, they are time consuming to apply and they limit the user's ability to vary the curling from one location on the head to another as there is insufficient variability in their dimensions to enable the user to change curl tightness. There is also some concern that they do not enable curl maintenance as is provided using a rounded brush and a blow dryer.

The alternatives of using hot rollers and/or curling irons have their own time consumption limitations as well as the real harm they can cause to the user. Regarding the time involved, both tend to involve an initial process of drying the hair and then a second action of styling, curling and/or straightening the hair using the hot rollers or the curling iron. It would be useful to style, curl and/or straighten and also dry in a single process. It is also well known to those who use such equipment that they are very hot and it is not at all uncommon for a person to burn his or her skin using hot rollers and curling irons. It is desirable to minimize or eliminate such harm.

Therefore, what is needed is a more effective apparatus for modifying hair such as through hair styling, curling and/or straightening. What is needed is such an apparatus that is convenient to use by a wide range of people. What is also needed is such an apparatus that provides the user with flexibility in the hair styling, curling and/or straightening process with time efficiency and a reduction in the likelihood of harm to the user in the course of the process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an effective apparatus for modifying hair such as through hair styling, curling and/or straightening. It is also an object of the invention to provide such an apparatus that is convenient to use by a wide range of people. The invention provides the user with flexibility in the hair styling, curling and/or straightening process. It can also improve the efficiency of the entire process and reduces the possibility of generating skin bums during the process.

The present invention is an apparatus comprising a set of curlers and a handle configured for insertion into and removal from the curlers. The curlers may be of varied diameters and may include an arrangement for extending and retracting hair capturing elements. Alternatively, hair capturing elements may be insertable into the curlers and removable from the curlers. Further, the curlers may include bristles to enhance gripping of the hair to reduce undesired rotation of the curler when in place in the hair. The invention also includes an optional curler retaining tower for convenient placement and holding of a plurality of curlers.

The handle includes a plurality of interface steps designed for frictional retention of curlers of differing sizes thereto. That is, the interface steps are of different dimensions extending from smallest to largest. The smallest one releasably retains curlers with the smallest inside diameter to the handle and the largest interface step releasably retains curlers with the largest inside diameter to the handle. The handle is configured to allow the user to select a curler of desirable dimension from the set of curlers, curl hair around that curler and then release the curler from the handle so that the curler remains in place where drying air may be directed to it. A second and subsequent curlers of the same or different size may be similarly placed in the hair where desired until curlers are located where the user wishes them to be. The user may then dry or otherwise modify the hair as desired without the need to keep a styling tool, such as a rounded brush but not limited thereto, in place where needed, removed and then reapplied in a different location, all using a single handle, or at least using fewer handles than the number of curlers used. That is, the hair may be prepared using a certain number of curlers with a lesser number of handles used to deploy those curlers.

The apparatus of the present invention eliminates the difficulties and inconveniences associated with current conventional hair curlers and styling tools such as rounded brushes used to style, curl and/or straighten hair. This allows users of all types to customize their styling/curling/straightening activities without limitations associated with specific hair curler forms and without extensive and time consuming use of the styling tool and/or blow dryer. That is, the combination substantially reduces the time involved in preparing hair. The time reduction may be as much as one-half the time ordinarily spent in preparing hair. These and other advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood upon review of the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention including the handle, curlers and retaining tower.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention including the handle, curlers and retaining tower de view of the suspension device of FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of curlers and a plurality of curler retaining needles.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a first section of the handle.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a second section of the handle.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the second section of the handle.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a first curler positioned on the handle.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a second curler positioned on the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A hair modification apparatus 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The apparatus 10 includes a curler retaining tower 12, a handle 14 and a plurality of curlers 16. One or more of the components of the apparatus 10 may be fabricated of any selectable material, such as wood, metal, nonmetallic materials such as plastic, or any combination thereof. The apparatus 10 optionally includes a rotatable tower retaining base 100 suitable for holding the tower 12 and one or more other components of the apparatus 10. A cover (not shown) may be provided as a tool to cover the components of the apparatus 10. The cover may rest on the base 100 or cover it as well and it may be of a decorative design.

The tower 12 is a polygon formed of a plurality of side panels 18 joined together at their respective edges. Alternatively, the tower 12 may be a unitary structure and it may be of a shape other than polygonal. Each of the side panels 18 includes a plurality of curler ports 20. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the ports 20 are of different inner diameter, with the ports 20 near a bottom section 22 of the tower 12 having larger inner diameters than the ports 20 near a top section 24 of the tower 12. The inner diameters of the ports 20 may get progressively smaller from the bottom section 22 to the top section 24. Alternatively, all of the ports 20 may be of the same size or they may vary in a different order or they may be different on different ones of the side panels 18. One or more of the ports 20 may be tapered. The tower 12 also includes a top port 26 configured to receive the handle 14 therein. The purpose of the tower 12 is to provide a convenient location for storing and accessing the handle 14 and the curlers 16.

The curlers 16 may all be of the same size or they may be of different dimensions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Some of the curlers 16 may have a first outer diameter and others may have an outer diameter that is greater or smaller than the first outer diameter. In one embodiment of the invention, there may be four different curler diameters, although more or fewer curler sizes are contemplated. The curlers may be of a selectable length but are generally similar in length to that of conventional curlers. The curlers 16 may be smooth or they may include a plurality of retention ports 28 configured to allow a hair retainer 30 shown in FIG. 3 to removably pass therethrough. The hair retainer 30 may be used to minimize unintended rotation of the curler 16 when the curler 16 is in place in the hair. Alternatively, as shown in the drawings, one or more of the curlers 16 may include bristles to facilitate hair retention when the curler 16 is in place so as to minimize unintended rotation. The outer diameter of the curler 16 is preferably dimensioned to cause a snug fit of the curler 16 in a corresponding port 20 of the tower 12. A user of the apparatus 10 may place one or more of the curlers 16 in the hair where it is desired to create a curl, to style the hair and/or to straighten the hair. The curlers 16 are of sufficient physical and structural integrity so as to permit the direction of hot air from a blow dryer onto them without causing a loss of structural integrity or harm to the user through the transfer of excess heat to the scalp. In other words, the curlers 16 may used in the manner curlers are ordinarily used.

The handle 14 shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4-6 includes a first section 32 and a second section 34. The first section 32 is shaped and dimension to allow a user to place her or his hand on it and rotate it to facilitate the rotation of one of the curlers 16 attached thereto to wrap strands of hair around the curlers 16. The particular shape and length of the first section 32 of the handle 14 is selectable. The second section 34 of the handle 14 includes a plurality of stepped sections 36. The stepped sections 36 are shaped and configured to establish a frictional and removable fit of one of the curlers 16 thereto. That is, each of the stepped sections 36 has dimensions that are slightly smaller than the dimensions of the inner diameters of the curlers 16 so that the curlers 16 are releasably secured to the handle 14. Further, the stepped sections 36 has a taper or angle, which may be a slight taper or angle extending outwardly from the particular stepped sections top portion to its base in the form of a truncated cone. The taper or angle permits initial joining of the curler 16 to the stepped section 36 and the fit between the two becomes tighter as the curler 16 is fully engaged on its particular stepped section 36. Each of the plurality of stepped sections 36 is configured to pair up with respective curlers 16 of corresponding inner dimension. For example, the curlers 16 with the smallest inner diameter fit to stepped section 38 while the curlers 16 with the largest inner diameter fit to stepped section 40. It is to be noted that the inner dimensions of the curlers 16 and the outer dimensions of the stepped sections 36 may not be limited to round dimensions. The handle 14 is, in effect, tapered using the stepped sections 36. Alternatively, the handle 14 may be tapered in a more smooth transition or sloped manner, wherein it would engage with the curlers 16 of different inner dimensions at different locations along the length of the handle in the area of the stepped sections 36.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, second section 34 also includes a keyway 42 extending angularly across the stepped section 36. The keyway 42 is shaped and configured to engage with a key 44 located on the interior of the curlers, such as shown in some of the curlers 16 of FIGS. 1-3. The combination of a key 44 of the curler 16 with the keyway 42 of the handle 14 allows for some slack in the proximity of the dimensions of the exterior of the stepped sections 36 and the dimensions of the interior of the curlers 16. That is, the key 44/keyway 42 combination ensures that the curler 16 will remain on the handle 14 until the user specifically releases the handle 14 from the curler 16 by twisting the handle 14 while keeping the curler 16 in a fixed position. Other means for releasable securing of the curler 16 to the handle 14 may be employed. The keyway 42 may also be used with a smooth tapered version of the handle 14.

Returning to FIG. 3, the apparatus 10 optionally includes one or more of the hair retainers 30. The retainers 30 are optionally used to fix the curlers 16 in place in the hair. They are rigid or semi-rigid bars that are configured to pass through a first and then a corresponding second one of the retention ports 28 of the curlers 16. The retainers 30 may be used to limit the ability of the curlers 16 to twist and thereby loosen retained hair by blocking unintended rotation of the curlers 16 while positioned with hair strands joined thereto. Other forms of curler rotation minimization may be employed without deviating from the purpose of the hair retainers 30, including, for example, curlers with bristles as shown.

FIG. 7 shows a first one of the curlers 16, one with bristles, releasably secured to the handle 14, wherein the curler is secured onto a relatively larger step just above step 40 of the handle 14. FIG. 8 shows a second one of the curlers 16, one with retention ports 28 and one of the retainers 30 passing through a pair of the retention ports 28, releasably secured to the handle 14, wherein the curler is secured onto relatively smaller step 38 of the handle 14.

The present invention has been described with respect to various examples. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All equivalents are deemed to fall within the scope of this description of the invention. 

1. An apparatus to facilitate modification of a person's hair, the apparatus comprising a a. a handle including a first section and a second section, wherein the second section is tapered; and b. a plurality of curlers including a first set of one or more curlers having a first inner dimension and a second set of one or more curlers having a second inner dimension that is different from the first inner dimension, wherein the tapered section of the handle is configured to removably retain the curlers of the first set of curlers thereto and to removably retain the curlers of the second set thereto, wherein the tapered section of the handle includes a plurality of stepped sections, wherein at least one of the stepped sections of the plurality of sections is configured to removably retain the curlers of the first set of curlers thereto and wherein at least one other stepped section of the plurality of stepped sections is configured to removably retain the curlers of the second set thereto, and wherein the second section of the handle includes a keyway extending across the plurality of stepped sections and one or more of the plurality of curlers includes a key arranged for removable capture in the keyway of the handle.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one or more of the plurality of curlers includes retention ports and wherein the apparatus further includes hair retainers configured for removable placement in the retention ports.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a curler retaining tower including a plurality of ports for removably retaining curlers therein.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the plurality of ports are of variable inner dimensions.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the tower is of polygonal shape formed of a plurality of side panels.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle and the plurality of curlers are fabricated of a selectable material.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the selectable material is wood.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one or more of the stepped sections are tapered.
 10. (canceled)
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one or more of the curlers includes bristles.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more additional sets of curlers with inner dimensions different from the first inner dimension of the first set of one or more curlers and from the second inner dimension of the second set of one or more curlers. 